EDIT

WE HAVE HEARD lI
Att Btt0Rt: FAMILIES ARt TllE BASI(
BUILDING BTO((S OT 5O(ITTY. FAMILITS ARE NURTURING AND
SUPPORTING BASIIONS Of I.OVT, (ART, DISTIPTINE IN A
DITf IIUI-I WORI"D. IHt BEST TAMII"ITS ARI TOUNDTD ON A
I-ONG tASIING MARRIAGT BITWTIN ONI MAN AND ONE WOMAN.
BUT DOES IHIS PICTURE MATCH OUR REATIIY?

Just look at the me(lia fren,.\ surrounding the
private li\ts of some of the rvorld s most
promineDt politiciaBs to,jet a glimpse inio thc
shape ofthe moder-n fanriJy
France's ncwly elected president Nicholas
Sarkoz.v has bcea married twice and his
blendcd family colsists of two sons from his
first marriage. trvo daughters from his rrife's
first marriage and orlc son from the existing
m,rrr irg, . For m'r Fr, rr, 1r Drr' i,lcnl Flatrr or.
Mitterand e\€n sired an illqjiiiDratc daltghter
\ ,ith his lon8-time nristress
Thc L'nhe(l Srdt.. .t .\rr,e|rce h.r" rlro.' , n its
fair shaie of fanril\ nradness, Fornrer Llnited
States l're-.ident Bill (liinton hatl -.c\ral affair-s
\'ith inlcrn trlonir 1.e$inskv and state
enrplorees Paula Jonts anri (itnnifer Florers
{leipitr'tL,blicl\ cl.rrurir;: t,r ll,rt'Lis rih ancl
daughtlr d.arl. Ilr,It ih, uirtiti\)n:,'r\iiti\t'
currL'Irl \ irr Pre:irlent lrir'k Chrnt i has hirtl
'e," t r ,,r' I' Ir"'trr'" I
in ordcr to accept hisdaujjhter's lcsbian partner
a11d adopted child.
Even the pol iticall]' consen a t i\ e East has seeD
some uplr..rv3l\. I n zoo;1 rat, r :rrg ro, hanging
tinres, a Malaysian courl rulcd that Nluslim
rncn i url,lditor.r llrcir \1r\" !i,r SMS using
their rnobile llhones - outraging women's
groups and puzzling then prirnc minister
Llahathir bin Nlohamad \\4ro said later, I am
not so keen on (divorce b) SMS). but thev say
it is pefectl! ie8al, pertectl\'Islami.. I think
that ifpeople rvant to divorce lheir \.ife, thel'
should resort to a much more personal
approach lhen thal-'
In iht face of these social trends shoitld \te
refi)rrsider our triditional ideals al)out the
:irnrlit\ ,)1 rr:rrrirgt anrl \lrji 'trrrir,!,1. to
rrririnlitin lh, inltlrit\ r)l lh, nr(ir'rt! iull1ih?
Dcrnan(l a }troadt'r Pcrspcerir t. l!

IHI BROADTR PERSPTfiIVIS ]EAM

Iiditor in Clrief slrirlr I in I( ik
Subscr;ptions & ('ircul tiotr MuntrS,cr l.otr.rirre lhanr Salcs lI:rnaliet Yct'-li)r]L
C('rlrillutinti write'-s \iirtr hins l-;ng, Nldja trlrh l)d)orlh l ll:inr' \'rniiecrt lir'':riI
#I ABUSE
When farnilies go wild.
Domestic abuse is a rvell kept secret in socict\.
especially within taciturn and 'face proud Asian
communities where it r-emai'rs chronically under
reported for victims as fanrily menrbers fear public
shaming. Abuse usually involves verbal bumiliation,
physical battery or sexual assault- Compared to child
abuse, spousal abuse is harder to plo\€ as it hinges on
controversially different cult ral ideas about gendcr
roles. Marital rape, forced economic depenrlencv and
even spousal murder have beenjustified before on the
grounds ofrelenge for infideliq'or a perceived slight
on famih honour \\Ih\ parenis murder thcir children
is far morc con4rles: rnen tt'nd to kill thcir childrcn
'rlhen thel fecl t]!e\ hare lost control oiertheir fenrill
or oLlt of revengf against r rvjMlo!\e\e r- \!onten
grnrrallr nrurJ.r tlrcil o11.rl)inS b.c!usr thrr p.rcri,r
j ..1 tr ,,.. ,,it'..r.:.,, ., r.,,,t,,..;.
,,r :.rr ihr,hilclr.,n Jr,rnr:r Ir,' lrl.rl li1, -lir, 1:'r
r.rr,i|l. r,laiir.lr leniunl 1,n l.urirli' l\ rt)r lrilori
rus sfrlr rn thl 1()r)i cirsr'rrhtrr':r SinlirI}or'run r:oLIple
ittcnlpted to pois(|n lhcir t\o daughters in Srdne\
-lh(,rlrlrgcsagirinsttlrL riliscrtdisntisscdrrrrrrrr nds
of clinir.rl L1t'pr,.srr,'n r]:il, tb, hrr.h:rrrrl r':r.
jai|:tl l!
#2 Utr
Why should a private addiction
be a public issue?
Read anl'arliclc about Lhc brcakdo\rrr ofthe modern
famil] and the spectre of some vice will ine\itably turn
up - be it pornography, Blcohol, recreational drugs or
gambling. When does a private addiction become a
prrblic problenr? A self supporting, self-protectitlg
larnil] rnit willing aDd able to iook after iis own
menlbcrs is sociebrs greatest boon.'l'hey cost taxpayers
!ii-tuall]' nothing, io host them. Vice addiction
undermines tlrt' family's cmotional stability and
cconomic self sufEcieno' Sonre vices like pornographl
and elcohol bave nlore intangible effects thel .<o$
(lislrust and Llnhappines-. bethcen sporrses $hile
drilng inttir itluals tlosl'r l.r scif'desir uci j!e. isolationisi
bch;liour Sorne riles like drugs and.qambling hare
' ,, ,... r,;'rhl, i'...ii,iri.rr.,r. 11, nl Lr. rlr,r,ir.
,,ir r: hi{}r te\ doll.trs .rnd {ubitloii:r! I,art\ ol th.
'
.ti:1i. \ r.joLrrr!t tltiit c,rulLl hirr r' h, r'n llr::nnelecl into
,,,lucrli,)n.rn(1 s(niirl rl,'rri"l'rrrn1 S,) into irn:rntilr-
r.'hlrbiiitirtion ;nrl lr:r i nlorli'rttlnt l)r(rs.ranlnres ir)
(lrirl $ith inrrerscd cIinr,:. pr'rsortal barrlruptcies- Iost
r.orli tirrL' irnd lirlrri.rlhrr,l\hrps lirr.'rl l)\ rhriirnrili.s
ol rrrlrlitls Srri:h srxial ,-o:ts hrn, rt'lrhttl ,:pidenrit
pr()p()rlir)ns ilr Arncricir resl)L'rtircl\. c\cessi\(
ranrbling and rlnrg ebust cost Arneric; rs li54 billion
:rnd Sr ro billion arrouallr l!
 5 THINGS T0 I(NOW 5 rlrAys T0 Ktu A FAMtry

#3 MATERIA1ISM #4 POLITICIANS
Who wants to be a millionaire? Do as I say, not as I do.
1'he dcve]oped .rvorld should have noth;ng ro complain
Politicall] sa\'\.v righr wing polilicians knorv how to
about in terms ofnaterial needs \\,c are awash with
lug at the heafi-strings of a conservativc YotinB public
so much material abundance ihat even luxuIl,goods just clrarnpion proJife and anti-iromosexualitr causes
likc Louis Vuitton bags and Jimm].clroo shoes arc rnd lrli,nre rhe dn,.lirr. uI tr atlrtionirl lamilr valu., on
becoDring mainstr.eam clich6s. From Singapore lo
lhe Ioll\ ol Irberalpolirirs. Howrr"r, rhc i*,.",,1,."1
ShaDghai to Milan, agljressive mateialisDt ha-s become
behaviour ofsome ofthe Riltlrt s loudcst leaders have
thc hallmark of every modern ciq. a pJacc whcre
done much damage to the institutioo of familv that
people want too muclr and work far too hard
to get it, lltP] clllirll lo t,rote.t. Tlte mrrr) cmbarrdssl|tg s(.rndals
The fierce competition ofthe sink-or swim, globilised
that have plagued high prolile consenatives has
market has undermined old-fashioned ideals about
uridennined the illtegdt) ofwhat they are advocating,
marryinB .ar ll . havirrg childrcn or spen,lrnS lrm. willr
creatinll c\nicisD] among their disillusioned supporters
la ntilJ . Marriage a nd rhrld r nrr bc, orrre
in,.orrvpn innr about whcther oltl-fashioned family values ar.e ajoke.
speedbumps to pronrising careers. and nrore people
Nowherc is tlis morc obvjous than the Llnited States
chuosp lo fofgo rlrnm cnmPleteh or ,teld\ thp,rl
rvhere tlle Republic.D Part] have had their..Iamih.
rndcl.nrl,,\ Thc DINK {Irouble In.!,nr. \; Ki,l,l !dlle< politic.'l plarrurrrr r,erl ,.ne,l,g,ir- rrrd aga,n
phcnomerron i" ri.ine rrlrcp, ount". .t . ,,, r,nl
e Flronal sar rsfddt,,rr i., ,lr, I tr,! ou ttp , ar.".r,a] tlrrn:,. l\\ ,lr,; usn tjtn nrp.',L,r .. r ,,nr. r Sp,al.r oirlr,
House cingrich had mrliiple irffirirs during hjs
- be ther o\'er coddled pet chihuahLtas
or ilash\ sDorts ^-ew.t
three mariages. clainriDs that {rralscr did not rotr]liii.rte
'rr.. Tho."shoclr.,n, 1,, Iri\,,i
rtd,,,,,,,,.,,',... -\-.\ ChanlpioD of the Christi:iir i 0aiitiL'r K.n (';rl\crr
thr:.challenge leeping up in a cutthr()at \orkphc.
r:rf
publich rlcnrnrncrd Di'nrlrcrar Brll Cli ton s:ril;rir !\irh
llith Irss burdcned tolieagues sirr\r\al at \!ork
\lonica I-t\rinskr a.-. rrnhritirrble \(,1 11:)s :rrrestf(l
ir d Ihf desire io upkcel) a collsuDl!rist nlrddle.lis\
ior solicitiDg a prostitute an(l ritcrnptin! to ilee lhc
ljtest\le unfortunatell leads t()o ofl.n to iIe sacrjjl..
sccne. lD zoo(), Republican congrcssr)an IIir I l:olrr
,,',l ,irh lrnc sllh | ,n.iJ! t,,j r,o,, ,,r,
th. (,lil.e (t
h,,,,, ;,
",,,., ', .j: rr,,1 . rr, , 11.."., r.,r, ,,r..r,,.,{ rl,..r 1,, t..,,, ...r;r
;cxuallr t.rplieit rrlails aD(l irrstirnr rtrcssages to ulldcl
aged ('ongressil)nal p:rges. !t

04 8ROADIR PtRsp[[TlV[5 r/rcyornriu isjuc

 I

i fcbul'6usfoct!
I
!t r'e'al
children
!I exist.
| 'l rue. Ferai chiidren are human children
rr ho lrr r' rthor,r human,onlacl iroma\en
! "
roung rg". Indpp,l. lhnre are manr'fictionrrl
i
1 heroes like Tarzan built around the idea of
I children being rcared bt wild animals. Remus
I and Romulus, the foundets of Rome u'er?
I sunuosedh brouelll uD b\ a grcdl 'he \'olr'
! n."i lif"."r". otJ"..t "t,ilar.-n t tit " rtt. l-in,
#5 tH0ltE !
I
.l"te.s of Auslriu) ar. rrrore l\Pi..rll\ lhe
product of extraordinarily cruel child abuse
I rather than a product ol being romantically
I marooned in the wikl. without enculturation,
It's a free world, baby. I feral children lackbasic social skills, maY not
! "r"n t",Ot.
to ruall upright anrl harn srcrt
while.Judeo Chdstian val es and Arian philosophies i rroubl. a,loprinB lhp human lrrne,uag, (!
still favour the eeds of socieO oler the needs ofthe t
indir.idual, the post-Enlightcnrnent EuroPean idca
about chalnpioning indiridual desires and needs over
society's needs has gained populality with jnany
edncated city-dt!ellers all over the rvorid. Freedom of
it urbonlegend?
choice or.er one's lifestyle and lhc glorification of
I You can only have one child in
independence has encouraged nrany ol us to disregard !I china by law.
traditional famill, ideals for more exciting, Iiberal ideals.
Divorce, adulteLl_', cohabitation, s\'!inging siDglehood i .A False, China's Planned Birth
and homosexuality were radical concepts before the | !@ policy - also knowD bywestemeN
American "free love" movement of the r96os and the
I as the One Child Policy - does not

Se\ual Revolution of thc r97os mainstrea ed such ! !I\ forbitl its pcople frorn having
altenlati|e lifesltlcs. The a\ailabilih of rew technologr
!I - more than one child. Horvever,
- afiificial insenrinatioD, b;rlh control pills. scr change i =e n".'t"g one child ;. 2 hsxvill-
operatjons ha!e llso ntade s ch alternati\e chojces I -.promoteci icleal r.lrich is strongil enforced
p,rssiblt'. \\'hilt' helrrosr-\trillit\. marriage and I 3mong ihe Han Chinese t'ho ii\.e in urban
pa|rntho,xi ust,l t,r b. non nL'gotiable characlcristic-s
I rrees- Rur:rl f;rnilies can hale trro children
,,1 :! nlrnr:rl plrrr,s:i,,n oiadrrlthood. n()\\ lht\ are
I if lh., irst rhild is lemile or disabiecl i'hile
| . lrrr. tsr, rr ltl' r i|
rrs,lrde(l aijust ,rnr: o1 In:rn\ (!trralh .crt'ptiible olnions ! 'l',,,. utI r",'r,hil,l .r'rrr rrr"rl
in lilr. I h.- nrrclerr farlill i-. bsing i rrrrtncr as mttr.. i 'rrl',, '.,r-,..',
pr'()plc see il as rn irr('l{'\'ant and sinrplistic contept ; areas. 1he po1icl rarir's in its enlbr(lrnlent
that is un:cllt'clire oln conll)li.rtcd realil\ Nhcre ga\
I across difli'rtnt prorinet's. Generalh. it
t .-,'"rr Ii.,-r' , ,,r ,.J ,.ur rt., ,rri,r:u r le' f, l
firl-nts e:rn b{'nroll com'Iitlfll lhan stratg,hl onts antl I .,,,,r,t., lr,rr rr,,r. LLarr tll rr lllo. t' J
llrnities can actrralI ln' nri)rr] \tirl)le post di\ orcc (t '
! ,1,"i" "l .lril'l "rr l<,, ' ,,rl\.,1,,P ln \, ,rs !,1
l'l.rnllcd
! b"illel,"lu" r, l,le.Fnr.nr li.rlrlrl\.d,P
(!
a Bifih poliq htrs been changed.
 WHY PATRIAR(HY AND

IONSERVATIVE VALUES WILL

SURVIVE THE 2IST IENTURY

by SH|A0-Y|N KUIK

rr-

06 EROADtR PtRSPftllvt5 rtu lnnii11 iss*'

A(IORDING TO THE WASH'NGTON PO$ WTIEN LITTLE YUNA
WAKAMATSU WAS BORN INTO THE SMALL JAPANESE IOWN OF NISHIKI IN
2005, SHE WAS TREAITD LIKE A IELIBRITY. MALE AND FEMALE TOWNSFOLI(

TURNED UB SH0WERING
(0P|0US GIFTS 0F F00D AND MONEY 0N A RFLATIVE

STRANGTR. IN A TOMMUNITY WHERT NO IHILD HAD BEEN BORN FOR A

DEIADE, WHERT PEDIAIRI( TLINIIS AND ELTMENTARY S(HOOL5 HAVE BTEN
FORCTD IO ILOSE FROM LA(l(
FACE O] A NEW.BORN BABY WAS A GREAI NOVEIIY.
ishiki's disturbinglt lorv
birthraie and senior dtizelr
boonr hacl aIeadl' doomed
its very existcnce. B-!-'
r{ith Nishiki s
aseins
cor]lmunit! Llnable to
sustain itsell, it merged iliih a
reighbouring cit! and ceased to
c\ist as an independcDt torl'n
Nishiki's plighl is sjnril:rr to man)
other Japanesc to$'ns and is an
oninors synbol of Japln's orvn
futurc.'fhe rvor-kl's second largcst
econorny might not be ablc to
maintain ;ts position in the co irrg,
decades i{ its rvorkjng populatioD
continues to shrink Nation\{ide,
the signs are alarming: hospitals
are cutting do$.n ihcir numbers ol
grnaecologists, :.ooo schools har e
l;rcn forced to closc. lld 63-ooo
Ir:rchers ha\e lr-'st thtir lobs.
.\nahst.\ t-.1inr:it(' thitt -la|:rrr r
p.p!lirtion ,rf r rs r illiotr r iJl tlt op
r0 t::o rrjllio I'r ror., ::n,l t,,l
nrillron br tolrt
,Jlpiin s babl shorlitgt' rn\r\ rs
rrnclerpinnecl br :r nrrrior glrbal 'hiii
ir,..rltrral nttitrl(1,. r,rrr.rrnirr!
gtnrlcr |r.rlts l hL' slorl is 1\ I)iurl i)t
rlani olhel drr r:loprrl nrl ions ilrr(l
OF BUSINESS, BTING ABI.E TO SEE IHE
t
till atreadr,he fanriliar to mant of
rrs. 1,r'orr ihe nid zoth Cenru.y,
wiih increasing financial
2()()6, indcpcIldence aId r:rlucation, more
rvomcn rr'cre aroiding rlarriage and
ctriklbirth. ln Japan. 7 oot of 1o
single xonrcn dec)ared thcr'had no
(l{rsirc lo bcconle t\,iYcs. -\pparentll,
the gror\'ing attmction o1 singlehoocl
to JapaDcsc tr'omen \!irs plimarill
a respons{: to ihe olerly p:rlriarchial
attitudes ot,lapan's l]len.
Sickenecl b] ouidated so(rietal
indsets thai condcmned wives lo
srrbscr'r'ience and lorcecl to clock
overl;nlc to overcornc rrmpant
prej udi ce \r,ithin thcir male h would seem like Joponese
dorninated workplaces, voung
.Japinese wonlen Nere planning
women were hoving their
lhcir li\es around lht' i(lea ihal ih.l sweelesl revenge. After oll,
$ould 1)erer uranl
wilhoul heirs, wouldn'l lhe
(ln iir:l glan(.. it s,,ulL] sc. ur thrt
mole rhauvinisls of Jopon
IrtLtri;rrh\ las b, in3, iiler':r11r
iI.Ight lo r\tin( tti)n. l-\.n;: nolurolly die oul, loking
Ir,,\, rlLri rrrn oi l;rt,,rn ri.rntlr''i
fir,rr('i!l in({'nti\f i L)h:rr,,trildrtn with them lheir whole
i;Iri ,r r'glr n izcd spcerl ,l:riirr; polernolislic syslem?
r\enl\..lal)lrn s \\i)riran \1r'rf Ilr)L
.ll,r,' irrs anr signifirirlt inter,'\1
in rrrollrcr lrorxl

.shi(l,) vii rr.,,rrls tr,5ia sh( has,r)t tluk'h.t nitrtl rtu scn) tol I'r1xi1.irq l/rc ,rraqt.dl 2. 09 .hikhvt pcru.o" nt
 FEATURT ART](LE wHo's YouR DADDY?
However, the surpnsing fact is that failing ft rtilit\ rates
anddisenchanted women are not m()dcrn l)Iol)l!rDrs at
all but a recurrinS thcnlt in hunlan hislor-\.
As long os socielies hove reorhed o point
where lhey ore rosmopolilon, relolively
free from wor, fed well on luxuries ond
brimming with new philosophies,
reproduclion will seem less of o neressily
ond more of o bother.
Alnrost 2O3o years ago, as aDcient l{onrc sank into :r
period ofcomfo.t, its aristocratjc men had bccamc so
cnalnoured with tltejovs ofltedonjstic singlchood and
Rome's womeD had grorm so disenchanted rtitL ihe
notion of having babies rvith such mcn that ErDDei.or
aacsrr.\ BUrlt'\\r.,.lurcr,l rori,{, 1..r, lr,,ur t,r\p.
r,,
punish tho-\c \!ho pcrsisted in ticing unucci or,:hildli,ss
(in.identall\, this is olre of our-carliest e,:::rIIks oi pro
r)ataii-.t policies in a.tiol1_) In Lbe I'N iod:n thr tnu:r
,orrrr,r,,nl.,r,,,i t,, |, i tr,.,t l,\ .,,:. ....,,t.
Uritish cit:2. s \rl1 lt.rihef ,rniiirie,..r i.hrlrllt:s. Ill
[rrt l(n irln]nst rll thl' d.\.!r);]rd \, jrl,t lirlliIl! i,,rliiir\
'ri.,r't .' .,'.'r,,,. ,,1,1 ,
gtrturh in r,ealth lnrlcLrltLrre l\J(r(iIrrr (|r\ Sirr3Lrport,.
llong liong South Iirrrlrr rrn,1.lrp;rrr rnrn l11 sr,:rlrhit,r
rrnd ror-c cosIIIrI1rr)IiI.!'r th; r th( ir 1,lhrr ,\sjlrl
l]righl)oL ! but ther IisL, r'irnk i|rr,)llg the \{)rkl s 2o
Ieast fcr I ilr' ali() s.
08 BROADtR PtRSP[IIIVIS r/rc.lirrrrilu rssuc
ll does seem lhul ot fhe turning point of
0ny s0riely's e(0n0mi( ond rulturol
developmenl, lhe only men ond women
who will persist in hoving bobies ore fiose
believe in volues ond norms lhul resemhle
pOlfiOfthy k.s. bcliefs thar marriage and.hildren
are sar:red gilis. thai men are the traditional head ol
the horrsehold)- Such peoplc are typicall,\. follo\^,erc oi'
pairiardlial, monotheist faiths like Juclaisnt- chrisn;]nilv
t'rl l'l.rn ", p".1,1, lror,r mrrle<Jlrrlrit,.d. ulrur. thar
rc\.ere tltei. ancestol.s and the honour ofthe familv like
llF Mp\icjrr.in,l Illlljr\. Ri-liqior rrrd rruditio;fr\"
lhenr a strong inrpeiris to procreatc and disdain birth
conirol ()l al)oftion. In Sjngrpore and France. it js thc
minoritv trluslims and Catholics ra4ro maintain ihe
highest icfiilitv rates despite a gencr.l nationr\.ide
dt:clinc in birilrs
thi. r'rplains the c:ses of Israel and tht t.rnitr,(l Slates
the onl\ l\o drrelopcrl \\orl(l eco onrie\ lh:rt hi\r,
:
beatcn tlri: ori(l( lr) iirr rl.r:llr ,, ihe nrir,:i(.irl I rx) tr,r t illtl
!rt, Jhirnl. t, ,, .,,, r,.r! 5i:.r!i ,,l] r, li!.:,,,r .,,t,t ,,,r
,rlLrullr lr)r1r, rr.,rr..,,ti,,n i1r Irc!nirr l!.r,irrr,,n. I.,.,,.1
hrslhL,hrrir,.t i'.rlr rt\ j;rii jrjlh.!l,rrt,,l\ L., rl,lrt
;tIr cnirrbl, :: qr rhiLir.r t)L,r!\,)rilIr
Israr:l ,Jer'ish trrrrtnrLrnitl llas 'l.t children
l)e. \\onlan-
s
However, 0s long 0s lhe setulurisls do nol
the t'ltra-( )rth(xlo\ .teNi\lr conrmunitt hasUchild.cn
per \ronriLil and arah Isreclis hare 1 : child|en pcr repr0du(e 0s mdrh'ns-lhe (0nservolive 0nd
religi0us, lhe former's onli-polriorthiol
volue syslems ond ideols will simply be
underrepresenled in terms of sheer
nUmbers. lJ,'^",.,,.,r.. ir' l,\,.,,^r :b,,..,hr. r'.r
r 'r r:. l,cl r' nranr 1,,1'rrlrr'. ntsn colr'tsr\Jli\P
politicians like UK s Toq-partl leader Da\,id Carneron
are embracing it as a long ternl solution to social
problems and making it morc palatable to the people.
ln thc Staies, patriarchial religions have Iesurgcd in
Similorly in lhe Sloles, while the liberol popularity amongst the )oul)g, thanks to a nelv
generation of fiercely traditional yet culturall-'- tuned
Northern sliles of {',lew York ond in religious leaders like Paslor Mark Dr;q.oll of l\'Irrs
Woshinglon hove hirth roles iusl 0s low 0s Ilill Church and political aciirist JiI1r Wallis-
ony liberol Europeon slole, lhe highly whai does this mean for Japan? Its total populalion
!t,ill drop th aslically as long as Japan rcnrains rigid
prolifir ond predominonlly (0nservolive about allowjng irlurli€iration and as long as its liberated
Southerners more lhon tompensole for y)lrngrvonren rclusc to be the "birlh-giving nachines"
Litbor N'linister Hakuo Yanagisawa longs fi)r. tsut thele
their unproduclive p0gf5. rn .rme.ic i\, 17.4% t)t \,!ill be trlditiorrellr nrinded Japanese \\'omen like
their babr boonrer nomen chosc to have one child onl) l'rincess Krko. as w,ell as minoritl" g.oups of Catholic
and rrchose to bave four (ih;ldrcn or nlore. 'lhc or Christian wonlcn, rvlro nill rcProduce irregardlcss
childreD ()f the fomlcr €lroup mirkc Ltp onll 7.8% olthc of incenti\.es or disincentives- l'he rising cost of
next geneDtion whilc the childrfil of the Iatter made education and lhe lack of chilclcare centres will not
up an astonishing 25%. This meaDs that thc proljfic discourage the rloman l'ho perceivcs chiJdrerr as a gift
Cetholic Hispanic immigrants, thc Mormons of Utah fronr God or the $,ornan who thinks marriage and
and ldaho, and thelargely Protestani Biblc Belt ofthe linrndchildlen are thebest gifushecin offer her parents.
South stand to inhe l Anerica b) \'irtuc ofbirth.ate
alone-

Slowly bul surely, lhrough o Dorwinion

survivol 0{ the iittest, polriorthiol volues
0f tourse, (0unlertuhure will olwoys exisl - 0s represenled by o new gener0li0n
in sotiely: !t,rJlr'ril),.ri,i\ \!,li ,,1 !,.,.t l,;,r, ,rn, ririrri. dominoled by conservolives - will mosl
oth{i clxn)sr lo
s lrirrlx r s ()r t I it.r\ in , l)i(l l,) probobly persisl, evolve 0nd inheril so(ieiy
li!,h1 tht lidc ot corscr \ irl isrn. :r1r(l thcrL' \\'ill ahral s lx
')(\'orir('
clrilLlrcD o{c(rnscl-\irli\es nJrr) r(rl)cl und Irjrct lh.ir by defoult.
'r
 VAL
In the r99os. before lhe .Lsiirn llnancial clisis hit, -Asiln Vulurs" irtcanre a coirlenit nt
reason gir cn for $-hr ihe rlsian f igct. econoDrics rverc rising srl specl:rcularh
r|hile
de\-eloping countries in Latin r\'rcrica ir'tl F.ur,1r. *,crc flr.rrder.ing. .-,\sian Valut.s..
became:r contro'ersial -s\1ro.r'n) 1bi filial piet1.. respect lirr-sclr.lar.slriir. har.tl rrot.k
and thliftiness inspir-ing heated debate evcn till tocla\.. by NAD.IA MAH

l0 ER0ADtR PIRSPIITIVES tir'ftrrnii,] rlsu(l

"The collo nse
of Asio
'
n
fof ily.
vulues rs o
resu h
of Wester n
medi0
II
inf luence
Sun, l aiwanese Jay Chou and South Korean Bae Yong
RUbbiSh. 'l'he onslaught of Hollp,ood movies,
Joon have far more nation$'ide appeal than Erninem.
sleaz-v MTV videos and the great Ame can adverlising
machine havt: iong beeD Asia-s favourite scapegoats lor
Carrie Bradshaw and \ladonne becausc nost
S: BJt,ore-1ll\ F lreirrtl. rd.r. ritl! ' r han.orIl '.pol,lirrr
the increasjng acceptance of pronriscuitv. devaluaii,---I!
global ciiizens. Ilore inlporialrtl), it is silll to as-rurne
ol r arriaEie- embrace of in{liri(llralism and gencr:ii
th.rl t.,,1'l.,.r,.,.||r, rrr'"1r,' li1, ur"lr,, rnitrt.I'ot,',
disrespcct ior paren ial :l uth.rf tl Asian crjtics of\{e-stenr
culture lo.e lo arsue thi]t as \\'estern cultural 3o,-,d.
\fhrl h ( lcrrn fronr \1 c(ttrn rrrt (lil i< filt.reti thri)rrgh
rirtt unique ralue srstrrrr\- rnin(lscl!. erptrienie' rrnd
aielessi.eiy prt'rrr,rre liiesi. lt: oi,:\rcssi\e Inati ri;tli: r.
llrrnr)ries. -\i1er \illi hir: l!rt lr')\,-\rirti\!.\rnL'riritn
self-centrt-dnts. antl srll iir(lrrlr,'rr.r. \rans los, l1,Lr.ll (ilr . r,rr. .\.i]Ir rltight be conrrncc'l
!\ith thrir orn cLrlluIr's;rrrrl b,gin to 1()s. Ihrrl 'rnes -\r\ rnd th|
thirt r\tra- ririlllirilirirs rrrr r.\\ $hilc iinolhrr Asilirr
ronst'rvati!e nroral br:aIings -\sian bcha!i,)lIr is
nright fcel e\en lrlorc indignxnl at the r'rcessirr
dcllnitcl\ atie( trrl l)\ \rhrt,\ri;tn\ \rtrh and listen lo
btharirrrrr riisplared and end rrp rven rnor. sloicill\
IIr)\\,\rr. ,\sirn\ urt still c,lLrrrlli if ri)l nroslll
int.r{rslt\l in.!.iirrr cLlltrrr.rl grrrtls ratlrcr ihl \\'eslrI
c,)n\r.retire an(l (lcl.n.i\r,rf -lsjiril Iinlill r:rlues
thaD r'\cr JD gcrcral. tht' (letl;nr of \irlLr( \\stcms
ones. S()nlr'ol llrr nr()st p(|l)trhr lx)p culturt icolls irr
is sinrpll too c()rlrple\ to bc blanrctl sirrlpl\ oD thr
Singaporc arc n()t \{{'slcrrrcrs Singaporean Stef.rni(l
lrcilia ll
0N zND TH0UGHT RETHTNK AsrAN tlAtuEs

FalSe. --tlr]one \\ho has \allied past the re{l liBht

districts oi I'atp.rig iri llthll:rnrlor Gellang in Si giLrore
can tell ]ou ihat -\sians seiil.iust as pelficth capable
as Westerners of liberal se\ual aititudes. Pornogr-aphr
addiction. premarital se\, e\traDrarital affair-s and
Iromoserrralitr are pre\ alent iisuei in \sia as Duch as
i. Lurope or -{rnerica In fact- the Japnnese are one of
the r.-orld s leading producers oI softcore child
"Asions ore pornograph\ and their curiousll blasd attitude to sc\ual
derianq esplains the incredible \ arietl of pomographic
rnanga available o{f the shelf as lvell as thc casual
sexuolly acceptance ofJapanese men's obsession with skimpily
tiressed Sailor 1\loor type schoolgirls. The website
(0nservolive lntemet Filter Review claims that the world's top ro
spenders on internet porn include Western nati,ens
(Canada, Britain, USA, Czechoslovakia, Brazil Australia,
while Finland) as well as Asian nations (Taiwan,.)apan and
South Korea) with the South Koreans taking the top
spot, consuming 2796 ol Ihe world's internet porn,
Weslerners Singaporeans lvho still cling on to the misguided belief
that they arc more consenative than the West only need
0re sexu0llvr to recalltlre 2()()6 'Tamlny'intemet pheDonenon lr'here
a \ideo recording of a 17 year old local pollteclrnic

liberol." student's sex lcts with hcr bofriend \.as stolen ftom
her nrobile phone and rabidl)'cilculated online and
offline bl Singaporeans themselves,Il

Depends on how you define

"Unlike filial piety. oue of the most cherished crnfucian
values, filial pietl and respect for elders, is not unique

Weslerners, to Asia as many of our mothers would like to believe-

Essentially, filial piet-l is defined as the responsibility
ofeach child to respect, obe] and care fol their parents
Asions as lhey age.'fhis valueis identicatto lhe Judeo-Chdslian
lalue of "llonour tllv father and mother_- ltalian .nen
are notoriors for their almost obsessive devotion to
believe in their mothers- HoNt'rcr. r'hilc l-last:nd \\ic-.t share
similar lore tbr parelrts. lhel mer not share lhc s:rm.'
filiol piety 0nd iders about hot to shol such lore. l_he nr(rrl
traditionall\ rninded Chincsc rvould ciassifY anccstor
rror.lrrp:,r p:,ri ul lrl,irl r,r.t\ r lrnr. r .orrr, one , ,rrrritrg
res0ecl iiom an! Western sociell foundctl on .)udco Chri-'tian
ralurs louicl rrguc that orlr'(.rrrld br l)e ccth lo\ilril
for'oulhorily." and rcspecliul lo {)rc s Dirrrtts withoul cl-ossin!, the
line and praving to thclr for guidance. l!

12 BROADIR PIRSPIOIl/IS llrc lontiltl issttc

 "Asions succeed
becouse thev excel
in lheir studies
nd 0re
hordworking."

on how H o!ve\'er, prominent Asiar

e success.
Asian schools arc justifi ably farnous
for bcing ablc to consistently mass-
produce students with an excellent
basic education wilh strong
gl'ourrding in language, mathematics
and science Throu:jhout North
America and Europe, educationists,
parcnts and politicians are rightfllly
orried lhat the aYerage
harcls.orking- t'elJ clisciplined Asian
studeut \rill lea\e the rveragc
reial!','elv rel:rxed Wesieln student in
drc dds! tsritairr ard \onh .{nedcl
.:sr^.i;.riil iq.1r ih:ri ih$ rri liiling to
Dr(xiu.e suiirirnl !.rJ(lLrrtrs in the
sciener. Ind tnilinrrrir!.. l hrrr i:
iurrelsirle l)rrssurr lo shili tlrt Inolt
lle\ible \\'L'strr Jr si\1. cducation
l(N\;r{l\ r rrx)r, rrirrn rlrr.eliolr i lhic
rhith nrlrrs,s,rn intlrslri rnrl
sl;rndi(lizc(l iesting
politicians and cducationists are wel
ar\'are that the Asian values o
indushy and unquestioning deYotior
to authorit! ar--e not conducive fot
producing the le\.els of creativity
innovation and entrepreneurshil
Western societies are capable of
Singapo.e's industrial mavericks likt
Sim \A/ong Hoo are seen as aOpica
offspring of regimented Asiar
education st-stems rather than th(
nornl. lvhat might be rlo.rling i:
that while {sia s dogged derotion t(
sinrple hard rvork is seeing nrtrcl
success in tlre sh,rrt ntn its l,)nS rlrr
.rrrr',.s nrighr d.pcnd hr:r\il\ on ill
rriilurgns: t, r lx'come lleriblt tn,Irql
to iril,'\r the bu(ldinS Ri(hi,r,
llun\,,rs ;Jnd llirlsleins (11 \sil lr
ronre irrto rhcir oln. l!
BATI( TO BASIIS:

III|RITI NG
INTRODUTTI O
by T0NG Ytt
To Yee, the uorse kind oJ
nrtroductions are the kitd aou
l1arc to do at co.ktail parties
Iull of sfiljnsers. He teuches at
th? S&oolofThousht.

-_
TSSAY MAKEOVER wnmrue rNTRoDUoror'rs

t6 BR0ADtRPtRSPFOIVtS the.fantity issue

But in prortirol terms, how con we fit all these ttquirements inlo
the introduclory porogroph? Lel's take o posi yeor queslion os o
somple to show how this done.

Is the idea of having

one partner for life
still a realistic one?
-lhe u'orld has vastll changed and in many societies attitudes ofhaving onc
The oenerol
underlying trend
paftner for life rlal uo longer be necessary, desirable or even possible.

Possible moin New tl.ends of increzrsed life expectancy, the reduced econornic function of
pornls suggesling
whv havino one mardagc and ernerging liberal attitudcs towards sex and cohabitation, to
oortrier for lile L
no longet reolislir nane just a few, seem to suggcst that malriage is an unrcalistic notion.
Dcspite these changes in the hrorld. most rcligious institutions continue to

insist upon the impr)rtance of monogamy and marriage believing these values

Ihe moin to still be relevant and realistic. Their stand, thongh traditional, is one that
perspe(lives
[or/ogoinsl is still held by nany. Yet there is growing support for the modern,
the poinh
inc'liridualistic rtrbaD \ie\\,that argrres that polit;cal and econonric changes

in the rlorl<l iril\ e made the idea o{ a life)ong padnel ideali,ctic. archaic or
.Lrrrph rrrrp,,"rl,le.ll\r, 'huu l,l rr' ,t lt blintled lil- this tnodcrn riel or prtssttrul

into thr(^r ing {)llt okl ricrr s and r ahrts to stetrt progressilc. It is rellistic ilnd
Your possible
slond or lhesis
precticll to hil\t l I)irtn{rr tor'li1e e\erl \!ith the chingcs lhrt thltiltcn llrP
reqordinq the
whole issue jnlportirnt instilutions ol nrill-r'iage ancl ntonogamt.
ESSAY MAI(E0V[R wnmruc rNTRoDUorONS

Is the idea of having

one partner for life
still a realistic one?
I
The world had iastly chaqqed and many societies attitudes of having one partner for life
34
may no longer be ry, desirable or even possib ncreased life expectancy,

e reduced economic function of rnarriage and emerging liberal attitudes towards sex and

habitation, nre just c fcw seem to suggest that marriage is on @."ulist4]rtotion.

7
Despite these changes in the world, ost relieious institrltions continue to insist upon tlre
8
mportance ofmonogarny and marriage believing these values to still be relevant and realistic-
9
ir stand, though traditional, is one that is still held by many, et there is growing support

for the modern, individualistic urban view that ues that political and economic changes

in the lvorld have rnade the idca of a lifelong partrrcr idcalistic, archaic or simplv impossible-
IT
\tte should not belt lindedlbl this nrodern !ierr or pressured into tlrlo\\ing out old \ie\1s and

\'alues 1o sccm l)r(JgrcssiYe It is le:rlistic;rnd praclicirl 1o hart,e prrrtlt'r [or life even with the

ch:rnges tbat threaten the inlportant institLrtions ol marriege :r d nronogantr'

l8 BR0ADtR PIRSPIOIVIS t/re liilrilq u.srrc

 So how did we put thot oll tofiether?
An onolysis of the skills we used
This openi is the general
ng, scn Lcnce
that lhe question
tre nd./il<su mptio n
alludes to. Please make sure }'otr
of
address ihe scope
socieh-es" in yolrr examples later on
in the essay. In order to be briel it
is unnecessala to address all societal
perspectives now.
''necesscr!,, des[rab[e or eDen
2 possi6le" are possible
interpretations of the kel word
''
reo lasir'c"
3 Using the words "near lren.ls" is an
easy wav to introduce Iour nlain
points.
4 'lhese are the possibie points you
rvill raise and the cxaminer now
cxpccts you to be ialking about
ihem lalcr. Mention al most 3 so
yourse[lence does Dot become too
lengthy. Notice also tlrat the points
were summarizcd into concise
descriptions and not lengthy
explanations ofeach point. You will
bc elabolating on each of these
points later. so there is no rush.
5 a)fcourse there:rrc lore points thal
\ou \';ll rrisebul lisling thcnr allis
, onsitletd bad ririling
It r\ hrlplrll lo Lrsr' thc k|r sords
6 inrrrr lhe qLrestion r! tt) nr.rint:rin
-ro
iocus lnd thc confidentc oi the
c\arninl'r ihat |oLurc addre-ssing
is one particulal perspectile 12 l\ hat is important lo note is thai
7'fhis
r'ou could choose. \\ie cho-se the \,e led up to this stand ali ihe r.a]
perspecti\ e of religious institutions ihroiLghoni tltts iniroduction. It \ra:
--nrony
as the! could easil] represent the not simpl,! a scntence that lvas
consen ati\.e right wing tnentality written without basis or argument.
that manyhold. It is also impoftant to note thal
although )ou can technicalll_ stat€
t $wc show the RI1ASON rvhy your stand in your conclusion-
religious groups take this stand and stating it in the introduction sets a
also use the kel word "realistic" clear dircction for the rest of th€
to show linkage to the question- cssil'. In addition, students under
exern conditions rarely take
9 Notice how we defend this view convi ncing si an ds in thci!
point to shorv our stand towards conclusions due to the lime
this perspectivc- We do this so tbat constr-aint.
ourfinal thesis can be built up lrom
this point and will not be a baseless
sentence at the end of the
introduction.
l0lhis scntence slates the REASONS
that help justify the liberal
perspective- Notice howwe use the
word "idealistic" that is tleopposite
of the word "realistic" herc- This is
to show the opposing vieh?oint.
ll\Ve sed negative rvords here like
'bliDded" to shob our stand agaiNt
the liberal perspective.
ESSAY MAK[0V[R wnmlle rNTRoDUrnoNs
IOP 2 MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT INTRODUOION WRITING
Good intlotluctions
shoulrl slall
rvith a quote.
Rerding nrodel essar-s r:ialie: fi.rir" iiii.1.-;i: bilie,e
rh.. hould .lJrl lh i , J\ ' N'lir J ;,n L ,luorp.
Unfolturatell, while starting i\ith a relerani qrcle or
iaci i.,cuid be ideai. this often backtlres Ior nlost
-Linder
studenis- etiam condiiions Lhe alerage student
ilho tries this noImally ends up using clich6rl phr-irses
oreven simplisticidionrs.'Ihcimprcssivcnessof quoting
does not lie injust the act of quoting but rather in the
fi n.:se of a sludenl in: , L cting i n ;r l,r .rn,l m'enrrrrlirl
reterence point to stJrt the essdl.. .
Sone exceptional students ;n Singapore read
voraciously and possess the abilit] io do this well.
Dcpending upon ihe question, these students are able
to drarv from mental banks of political, literary or-
religious references. Should You aspire to do the same,
then reading reputable currcnt alfairs publ;catioDs like
Foreign Polic_'- or New l ternationalist or del)endable
forcign nervs \\'ebsitcs like rrw-rv.bbc.co.uk or
trlr,.pbs.olg rvould bc a good start.
20 BR0ADtRPtRSPffllV[5 tirelorrri1.r7t.ssur:
We should define
all key lvords
in the question.
Students orten espress thai thel lcei silh deilning a
the key \vords in the essav question as it makes the
essars sounti juvenile. AD e\atuple of tlpical openin
_Becoming
sentences rrould be ill is defined as someor
falling sick or uot feeling rvell.,{s long as we are huma
l'e trll fall sick. ' In realitt-, this does sound silll - S
lvhat exactly is i{Tong here?
To clari!, it is in fact necessarl'to define key rvorr *
onll'when the meaning ofthe key word bas the potenti:
to be misunderstood (double meaning) or is subjectir
or simply needs to be defined for the sake of settil
thc scope ofargument. l,et us consider a question lior
the 2()r)6 Nov paper.
Slrnuld crirrres rhot l]'ere c.)rn nitte.l
The rvord "crines" necds to be dcfined as it cit
potentially involvc a very wide scope and rnanl Iear
ago" needs to be dcined here as it is subjective- In bot
cases lhe examiner needs to understand horv 1'ou defiIr
the tcrms so they understand tlre scope oftlre argllmelr
Ilut "forgotten" does not need to be defined as mor
pcople r^'ould not need this basic rn'orcl clarified.'Ihes
opening sentences to the essav- h'ould suffice as
definition of key terms:
AII nrcnttpr oJ crinutnl ociutlv lt.ls b c conthttllp
througlr tle lears ratlgitry f'o l petty thqft to politic(
tr-s.s(rs.sindhbn to euen nass ef,-terrlination of enti
races. Despite tlle graD[tA of sonte of these crirtte"-
todaa's cUrical and self absorbed people houe begut
to forget crinles cofitrrilled os corly d-s (I .lecatle ogo-
prc1rrtiull L, nruc,,tt r ith l4' ,t' rlnu s,, nt' I'oit't it
rttnenthering the sitt-s ol the po-st.
As oppos(i to ...
('firn.i rrr tle/irr.r/ irs rlono rl,rirros ll)dl Ir,)j'1{'
i,)Jrrrrrr (rqrli/r-sl rrrr{ llr,,ll, 1'lr,'i, ( ? r:rr':i cr-'rill li.rr'.'
nt, n canntittatl lr,,nr r,ir\rrrf /,1!r'{,? l,r)1/.(rr\ r,d,)
1t rj b,!!r1s. lfirv rrr{ (',,'rrll]rr(11i() ,l1]lrq t/rdr: irv,)
l/rdl i)(!41{,u i/1t(,,r(1r()r r,' rrrri'rr{'i l/r./rl
\\'hen we define ke! ternls tre are n()i ,\ul)posed io gr\r
rrr, r r'. ,..; "J ",' '1.l'.r' '.'l| r 'l'rr- rl, ' I
th:rt \\ r) r (1. Iheljrstt\irDple(r'\!rottcleirrh rlellnes
lhc scopr ofilrE,unrrnt $hercas thc scconrl orrc nr. r'el]
dcfiI]cs the nlcaning, of kcv rvords. \Vbich one sorrnds
less sillr ?
 GRANDMOTHTR TESBIAN
FROM IHE BRONX FROM MANHAITAN

ln Snl:rp,rrt. tc hrrrr, ;r OLrI \!rit( rs itsk,'d t(

dirrrsitr ol !ir\s lboul issLris l)ut lhc rangi oiLrt::rl lr:rmr thrir:rns\\.r\ in ii \r\ thitt rcileclr!l tht
\ ifr s \ ill not be as \\ide as lhe ranijc of slrbal r ie$ s b:r.kir,roLrrr(1. cr t rl r(l bL'li.i s\stenr o1 thL'ir inl,il)tea
:rraillble Baningourabilih tocon\irrcelr \\.iscon-cin ])elsonr as fairl\ as pr)ssil)lc
r.r!1.,'rr",r'; lr. i .l''rlr,.rLL,' rrLL
l(r' us- \\'e thouglrl thc rlc\t bcst llrirl{ \rils lo gct trlcnt(l \!riters hid lo choos(
writeni io method \\.ritc sintiler l() ho$ actor-s irserrch fr'onr r pool o1 conrnron c\lnll)les rhosen lrl our-tcanl
io stcp in chrncter-li)r a llim. to denronstralr lhrl th('sarnc L-\:rnrPles cirn bc uscd l)\
in{li\-idurls lo rilthcr dilliJ'irrrt prrspr(rli\ L's l lrcs€
1(n'nr
|xIurples lI(' higbliglrted lh! oLrglrt)Lrl l lre arli'- 1..'
 IHt BRONX GRANDMA VS. THT MANHATIAN LESBIAN

Nobody can do without family-

As a grandmother I have come
to understancl this very clearly.
My daughter has run off with
hcr latesl hol.friend once again.
If it weren't for me, my two
young grantlkids wouldn't even
have a roof over their heacls, let
alone someone to love thenr.
On)l family can give a person the care ald love
he ieeds to become a r{ell adjusted adult. Not
onlr'that, the family is important as the
co.nerstone of society.

Without family societl, i{ill crumble- Just look

at,tapan for example. Il's makjnt the news
nurrJde)s as lh. col'nln \\tlllthplargest ageing
population because oler there nobodl rlants to
have a familv anrnore. 'l-lte\' onl\' \!ant to \,!ork
ancl rnake monel and the\ lhink h.\iDs kids sill
hinder their careers. I'hirt s so self-cente.ed and
nrirteiali-stic and it s becornins.Japan s do!'niirll
I heir popLrl;rtion anrl thur lhtir w,,rkf,'rc"':rrt
slrrinkinr lronrt:,1h this nrcrns tlrn r,rrr t l'.'
:rbir to kc.rp lhcnr*i\ r; rr, h in thr rnd lx,crr..
A GRANDMOTHER ihcre s no onc tr) d., the \ork \\'orse still. th('rr
'rltrrr', .rrrd l" lirt. lr- uu( bucauie LII rcl r."
,
FROM THE BRONX lanlil\ unit t()
'rsiill
lhcsr r'alues. or nrr
\ ollnl]slers t(r pass tlrrnr on to t his jLrsr sh(^!s
os conceived by DEBORAH THAM |rnr hor\ much thc lanrih is r!(n1h.

22 BR0A0tR PtRSPtOIV[5 l/rc /i:rr;tiia is.suc

Ier. iir:'l: [.'ilr7 r'rrirTrlises of f[L,e ixtrorqhs ir.,iih hrrndreds r]i,rrcit: ltbou-ht.'cttis cf
rJistirrcl cAol-rctels, iti.sloi ics rinri ciillrrri'.s.'fhe Bronx bur,,uqi, rs r1.irnirioi, .i b-rl
bltLe-coi[ar .,lli ct ,a,ntericcnt.s cnrl rr.,rrs <ornrnortly portrayer! irt tlu: tgSos us ct
uorking-.lc-;s ititg hbou'hoctci buttling t'ioLente. urllcLn ruin oncl pot et ttl.
The llarrhatt:rn borotr'r7lt'.s crrliiire is coloiii,.:c b!,,rts predriniiri tiittitl t-tliite colkn'.
white ,ltncricitrt ititpulotion tlte Li14ttr Tl.'asi Sirie i.s tlie intullc. trr.iI rind clerif ii,c
centre af Nert' York, ulbrtntllJ BoJrcntian anci politicallll liberal tt'hile the Upper
East Sitle is one o;f the Luealthiest neighbot"trhoorls in IJSA itselj'.

But despite kno\ring all this they families norvadays. People likc my
are still making it so hard for an1'oqre daughterjust use such statemenG
to keep the family going nowaday's. tojustirywhy they can sleep around
All these prcfit-driven corporations and not bother about maintaining
like wal-Mart are just take and a stable familJ' environment. As a
take from thcir employees and give result theirpoor kids don't have any
so little in rcturn. I hardly get loving home and iust grow up all
enough fronr working at wal Mart $Tong like these youth gargs in the
to pay offthe bi)ls and jfit lveren't neighborhood. Society just becomes
for Social Security I don't krorv rvhat terribly unstable in the end \aithout
I'd do. Ml grardkids irnd I can't a strong familY unit.
even get health benefits and my
superwisor's been pushing me to But I guess that despite all these
work overtime ncarly er,'eI1day. AJI things threatening to break up
at a time when my grandkids need family nowadays people are still
me more thal ever now that Cassie's pulling through. You don't need
learning to walk and Mike's starting tradjtional dads and moms to bring
high school and he's so insecure and up the kids anymore. Look at Ms
worried about his new class{s- These Jolic and hcr adopted kids for
corporate policies and wagc example. She's been such a great
schenes just kecp me from being role model.I totally \rnderstand how
therefor my family when they need she feels. lt just shon's how family
mc. is really al) about reaching out to
sonreone in need no nratter about
Fl\er|oDe seerns hell bent on baekground or coloul And at the
destror ing ihc-se precious laorilr same tilne, jt gives lou such a
lies- tjrsl econonritalll and rors l ond t'rful lceling of p,-'r,.ona1
.,riallt llikeiu,.l iol(1 orc last night fulfillmt nt an(l lifr purpose thal
about his prr)terl ,rn thtrr rn:r1.,:.rll lhc hardships roLr grr
irnthrl]pologist pe0plt lii,.' through i. orthr. hil, . -l hal s r. hi I
Nl:u-garet Ilead. I cirn t lrcli.'r, beliere no one (rn do \'ithoul
anrone \:oLrld L(r rround tclling lh(l lanrjl\, it pro\idcs \ou \-ith all the
lorlcl tlr:rt monog;rrrl is !nnllurrll love support \o! nce(l to lace lllc
It s all lhrnks to such silly br:liclr tlt:rllcng.s ol lhi. \.!rrl(1. ft
that lhere are so nr;rrrv br0kcIl

I)cborah thinks the Add(rD)s /:nrriil i-s .r 4rcor rrk tnod.l filr lLunilies bdaa
 THI BRONX GRANDMA V5. THI MANHATTAN IESBIAN

I remernber Pa, NIa, Alfred and

rnyself laughing as we walked
to church e ve 11, Sunday,
clu tching eac h other,
reaffirming our bonds of
kinship. Thal till today r.emains
one crf my slrongt'sl memorit's
of chilclhood and I often find
myself wishing that the essence
bf that moment could repeat
itself throughout the rest of my
life.
Unfortun:ltely- lile as a voung adult was never
<hurt oltrUbuhn,.e. Ar ro Iaskprl lorgiveness
from God u,hen I realisecl I could not stop loving
Isabel- At 24. I brought Cerolhome- At 32, I,ve
been rriih Carol eighl \ears no\r. When $,e
discussed starti g a famih. I ihorrglrt of horv I
could rcc.pture that moment from iong ago.

BLrl a rnEii. ntemon of rhildhood llclies the

conrDle\iir , ,i n i i liirnih i: .1ll rh ]tr I To tl ifteFnl
cultures. iiimil\ hl)lds difl(,rrIlt nrr.enin!s errrl i:
nrudc rrp or rliilIr'inr dln:rrrlicr. \\hit i;rrrrll\
LESBIAN .rj,r,J. lur Jr,r ',r,r, , lr,.r llr,rr nol l)(.in r
FRO M MANHANAN rellrrti()o )i \ hirl the stlle r)r inslit tions ha\ r,
,

,l rr','rr,,l- lr,, j,,1,.rt ,., ( l,r'r. l:..,rt\,.,r.

bi :rlrrrt'rl t0lr:l\ r lirrDrc(l lhc l)r$i-L olthc \\'L5trrn
crs conceived by YASMEEN HUssAlN c(r)cL'l)l ol llnrih onc l:lascd on ltonogarnr :rnrl
secll as r nrriuns of estirblishiu!, or-rler. and

24 BR0ADtRPfRSPt{TlVtS tir,./irni/i7is..;rl:

In Hitler's fascis t Germany
meanwh jle, lanrilf lvrs cxplnitqd
chrldren becanry spies of the slatp
by reporting or their parents-
'fhe histolicai context of family is
vadcd, but what farnily offers is also
universal in a verf important way.
When a couple in love form their
o!r.r llmily, iheir bonds oflove are
stre gthened. -fhev have shared
responsibilities and their clrilclren
are the mediuDrs through which
sharcd memodes are fonned. These
adtlts livcs are inftlsed witlr
sort ofmeaninB - life
a new
is about more
than themselvcs. lt is about thc
nurturing of souls dependent on
you, a journey itway from self
centredness. The worrying trend of
low birth raies r-:J in Japan, a
technolos/ savrv nation that prides
itselfo:1its u'ork ethics. for e:iample-
su&qests that as eco omies !:ei morc
advanced, prior-ities shifl. lianr;l)
and a meaninp;fu) liie is replacetl b1
ambition. Dortetan wealth a path
lhat C:rrol anr:i I rrr l..n lo iloid.
Cbildr,:n unclorrbtcdlv cannot dcr
\\ithorn ihe lo|e thrt be[rnging to e
lanrih alfords thern \rrnrcrorrs
rest';rr-ch has sllo$n thrl slrrd( nls
\ith supfor'li\c pirr( nls who show
interest in iheir rrrll bcing tcnd kl
perlblnr rvcll in schor)1, rr'hile those
i
r'r'ho corne from single-parent The growing belief norv
homes tend to do worse. Orphans
growing up without adequaLe care is thai two loving
similarly suffcr. Surely then, it is parents of the same sex
logical, that Carol and I be granted
the opportunity to adopt children can indeed provide a
who would otherwise be worce off. nuftudng and tolerant
It is llawed that stigma ard environment for their
prejudice o\erride clear gains to the
adopted child. Amongst the children. Family is still
prcj dice that \1'e face ds important, for the
homosexuals is the con\iction that
all homosexuals agree h.ith [,lead's support andjoy it gives,
bclief that polygamy is natural- and also because it is a
Carol and I are iD fact committed
to each other Other-ivise- \'\.ewould means of ordering
not have children for r,r.hom an society.
enr.ironment of dedication and care
i\.ill reed to be prc\'ided.
Despite its redefiniiion, the function
In the :rst century, the concept of
of family is still fulfilled it is a
means thrcugh rvhich a purposefirl
famiiy is undergoing redefinition.
'I'he Jolie-Pitt famill is life is lcd for both parent and child.
a
denonstmtion of holr-fanrilf is no
I am ronfiden! Lhat Caroland rrll-self
loDger aboul ties ol blood - ralhcr
rvill be capablt, ol capturing the
it is aboui conrpassion and lo\'e essence o{famih rrhcn $,t'rrise ottr
Colour and background is of no
r.'lerance \lerr- Chcner. childrrn. \1e helit'!r lhirt r'ilh
pr{rgnanc} too. hrs drirnr:rticxllr
childrcn r'i' rrn r:rll hnril\. (rtrr
lir es srll b,: i nrx hlrl ir nLrnrcr,lts
changed ih. mindsct dr31 th.'ti,.nil\
n,l s I!
colnpriscs ol nrolher, lathtr arl(t
children.
IE BROADtR PtRSPtOIViS tle /irnriiri issue
SINGAPOREANS HAVT KNOWN IHE DTPRTSSING.TACIS TOR YIARS
- WE ARI JUST NOT REPRODUCING fASI ENOUGH IO REPI.ACE
OURSEIVES. SINGAPORE NEEDS 60,000 BABIES YEARLY BUT RTAPS 35,500 ONLY.

A5 OF 2006, SINGAPORTANS WOULD HAVT HAD 30 YEARS OF UNDER.RIPLAIEMENT.

stNtE l9/6, wE HAVE N0T SttN 0UR IOIAI FERTILITY RATI {IFR} G0 BEYOND THE

MU(H PRIZED NUMBIR OF 2.I BABIES PER WOMAN. GLOBATISAIION PILTS ON THE

PRESSURt: 53% 0F SINGAPOREAN Y0UIH WOULD CONSIDER EMIGRAII0N AND 2/3 0F

IHEM WOUID LII(E TO WORK ABROAD.

,
e are ]rot alonc in
battl;n!i tlre illobal
pandemic of populatiorr
shrinkage- [n 2oo5,
both (lcrmanl' and
.lapan saw for the firsl
tirne, lheir deatb mtes olrt'nunlber-
their birth .ates Feflilib levels for
the n'orld as a l'hole fcll bl mole
thlrn 40% bet\leen the 195os to
2ooo. RoughlJ',83 out of 192
countries :rac bel{^r replacenenl
feltility patlerns todav -- rneaning
44% ofthe $,orid's total Population
is apparently incapable or unwilling
to replace itsell
'l'here are no eas)r'
explanations for this
phenonrenon. \Vhilt-' rnany ofus
tt picall\' belie\'e sh ri n king
populations to be an erciusivelv
!uropean or dc' eloped nation
problern. ihe startling thing is lhai
subrtpl3c.'rDent hrtil;t) societies
rrtludr' countr it:s iiie Leirrruon ui
Sr i l-enkr -llpaMtl\ 1h. larstst
.,,ll( (, trirtirrr (il \hi inkjr:t \(x'i.tics
is in l-:ast -\sir 'Jirl)iiD- lh.r \-.irrn
'l igtrs (llr)nS N{)rrg. Kotea.
Singlpore ard I air':rn) rrrrtl Cbina
l'r nollhlc.\irlrrll.s
Gencral assulnptions cannot
bc applied across the board.
Higb lc\els olillitemcJ- and po\'e \
.lo not alwavs guarantee high birth
rates :ts seer i llangladesh wbjch
hah'ed its tdal ferlili0, rate dur-injl
the past:Jo Iears. strict feligious
attitrdes do not:lwavs maiDtain
higir fertilit) ratcs Iran
regimental lslamic clcrEl' hale nol
prevented fertility rates fronr
drcppingb) h{o thirds overthe last
26 years, causinll ii to sit on the
urlcomfortable brink of
subreplacemeni fertilii!.
Developed nations face a hauntjng
fuhrre excluding the Unitcd Stetcs
rvhich secs healthy inflorvs of
immigrants antl high feniliO rates
toial deaths alread) e ceed total
births in all dereloped natio'rs bv
al.nosl halI a rnillion a rcar.
De\'eloped nations arc
prc.riding gt'nt'rous inccnti\ r's
to crcourage lheir citizenn to
gcl marricd or pr(,(1ucc
chil<1rcn. ilrliirn \'onlcn qel ir
inc(nii\r tr; pr,ri1Lr,:, :r
ilcnrrrJu-L
scconcl I'irnrbino ln r(n)4..\llslr irliil
rrlli(rl it. Ircoirir.to he(. r'nI
(babr) for urrrnr- one fol tl:rtl anrl
(rnc lor lire courrlrt , |roriditrg a
nc\1 rS'J.ooo uraiernit\. irllo\\ilncc
and $r9 billion extra iD family
pavmcnts. Singapore has freed up
molc iUedisave funds tbr child
dcli\.cry expenses, prolided tax
rcbatcs for new parents and
'\^,orking mothers, exten.led paid
rnaternitt l{-'ave horn 8 \lecks to 12
and promised financial suppoft to
s hnril)' fricncll)' compan;L's. lIa\ing
a finit clrild i Singapore nets a Bab)
llonrs of 53, ooo (ash. a secoDd
child guarantees $9, ooo cash and
up to $rB, ooo cash lvill be given
for a lhird or fourth child.
Unfortun.rtely, fe$' people like
to be nagged or bribed into
their government's ideas
about m:rrriage and
parenthood. least otali thoscbrcd
on lrotions of lree choice. Such
golernmental Pol ic ies ha\e
achic\ed lirnited success so tar.
\l'hilc -{ustralia re\crsed its '1FR
iloir i ::l ill 2ar(ji to i -- iIl ]oo-1.
it still r','m:rin: Lrndlr r.fi:rr.nrrtrl
riil, sin!::ir,,r, rr.iili rlrth iririlrd
]rrt;irlr i,r ., , Llr, ih. . jrr lr)li(irs
\ill nurl3t htr f,l\l thc
srl)r.l)lircenrenL rr)rtc in thi' nt.\t
L()CAI- GL()BAT THT FUTURE IS GRIY
lnll France, thc Neth€:rlands irDd
:ite No.dic countrics ha\ e
juccesslulll kept fertilii) rates
r€ralth\'\\'iih a combiD alion of
r\cellent child care scr\ iccs.
jeneroui lanlih 1a\ allo\lances and
righ qualitI pilrt tinle \ork.
l'he fastest short-term solution
ieems to be openness to a
iignificantly larger inflow of
immigrants. This, though, is a
rhallenge to ihe ve.] culture and
lnique identity oftlre migrant's host
rountries, Br' 2o5o, apProximatel)
r quarter of Europe's inhabitanls t
"ri]l
probably be non European in
rr-igil, character and beliefs if
gurope maintains current feftility
rates and depends ol1 immigmtion
:ls a solution- Japan infamous for
Lts almost non existent migration
,cr'els - may face a future whcre up
ro l/3 ofits total poDlrlation is gaijilr
iforcigner).
I'he supply of migrants is no
issue for many people of North
Africa, the Middle East, sub-Saharan
Afrjca and South Asia are glad to
find a nerv homc that goarantees
iafety, education and emplo)'rnent.
Demand is the issue politicall]
incorre.t as it is. few couniries
appreciate embmcing a future r,,/here
lheir ven t.aditions ancl lifestyles
appear in danger of e\tinction
because of an in\nsion offoreigners.
Singapore has doubled thc nLrrber
citirrnshi|s grirnted ironr fi.soo
r)l
i 2r)i)r I0 rr.)oo in ?()i)i DasDila
lhr urrrilr!. o{ tht Singlpolean
s,)\rrnllrtnt t,, recall Singapore s
oisinirl idrntit\' as i nrigrunl-iuelld
port cii\. e\-el] Singal)orcans
Icpu tt'd Ior ha\jn;l rrlali\r'l\
pcirrt'able r it trs :ibi)ut rirri.:inrl
rrliSior in lhc Asian rt-'gion ha\'e
bcglln to voico
28 BROADIR PIRSPIITIVIS thc.lirrniftT r-srrre
out \enophobic grouses about the
inr:ri:isiiig'prcsenct' ol Chinese and
Indiarr irriinigrants in their
neighbourhocxls
-\_eredheless. de\eioped nations are
lalingout their \\elcome nrats ir an
il Tii1Aru D incrL'arinsli c.r.npetitire bid ior the
rost desirable iir,tnigrants ill the
r5 T*li i55ur s,orld: r.he hrghl', skilled and
educated professionals, Inrmigration
P*tITi{AtLY processes have been stream-lined
and s bstantial amounts ofmonej
!t{{0ftRE[T A5 tT t5, are being given to branding
conlpanies to package host countries,
iiYJ LOUNTRITS
just a little brighter and betler than
APfRE{IAiE iMBRAIING the next.
A FUil,iRI WHiR[ Any shrinking socielv uill {ace the
THTIR v-IRY TRADITION' \itality,
issues of dcclinirrg economic
thc threat of cultural extinction,
AIiD LIFISTYIES increascd socio economic burderr
on the .enlai]ring )'oung workers and
APPiAfi iN DAIIGTR a possible compromise on one's
0F EXTII'tiTlSru defence capabilities (particularly for
smallc(nrntriesl.
BE|AUS| OF A}t
The future right nolv appears to be
tNVAsl0il 0t literally and figuratively grey, In
FOREIONERS. 2()25, the median age of the
developed rvor'1d r,r'ill be
appro\imatel) 45 -!-'ears. Japan will
have a mcdian age of49 with more
than a fifth of its citizenry over 70
years oltl. China's high levels of life
expectancy and radical population
control po)icies nlean that senior
citizens will ac(ount for a seventh
of its total population. Pto\'iding
af{ordeblt' healthcare an,l economic
suppo for the elderlv $illbt'cone
a pressing ghbal issut'.
\\'hik' dcnrographers could still be
r ron.q ill ihcir peisimistic
pleciirtirxs- lhe i. orid toulcl do rrell
to prepare 1o 11cc thL'consequenrcs
of this :;enentior's contixrrcd drifi
to\\'ards ioicrtilitr'. l,
 PROJECTTD PTRCENT OF VARIOUS (OIJNTRIES'
POPULATIONS THAT ARE 65 AND ABOVE

2iJ25 - 2.8y.
SII]RR.q. LEONF]

2(|25 - 8.1o/.
MAI-AYSIA

2ooo - 4.9yo
2lJ25 - 8.3vo
INDIA
2oo1) - 7-64/0
2lo25 - t3-7o/o
CIIINA

2ro25 - 18.21/0

2ooo - 8.to/o
2lo25 - 19-59/.
SINGAPORI,

2o2S - 24Y.
HONC KONG

2.too - t8.9yo
2<t25 - 21.6.|r'.
GERNLANY

ITAI-\

?o2;2llr,;
.'APAN
I

I
Do you gct exasperatcd ert lhe mount:riIr of plastic bats ]'ou
I

I
have storerl under thc sink that never seenls to stop
1
growing?And ifyou arc fashion conscious, don't )'ou hiite how
I pl.rstic bags make you look less stylisb, itot to n)ention ho\4/
I
heavily ladcn plastic bags cut painfttll-v into your hands? So
I

I
wh].not starl briDgirlgyoul orvn stylish, harld friendl)', rcusablc
I shopping bag 1o your favou te supermarket?
I
I
Supporl environmcntally frientlly corporations like IKEA ard
embracc the push to Bring Your Own Shopping Bag. In
I

I Singaporc, about 2.5 bi)lion plastic shopping bags arc used

t eren' r.ear - that-s ill)otlt ?,5(lo l)a:l,s usecl per fanl ih pcr' l ear!
I
lfeach famill uses one less plastic bag a u'eek, Singiiporc could
save irlore lhan 5o million bags eaclr l ear. Your- littlc eflilt c:trr
I

:
tLr a lrrt ,rnt lcss plastic beg rrsr:d b! r'orr lnclrns .)lrL less I)lilsti(
l itg lloaling eiorrnrl in thl i nr ironnlctlt lhrt rould I)l rlrlltiallr
r'!r,rle,rur rn:ritsrort:.rltslr'or,,rrt trrarin, l i f,: rl l , l l i t t .' l r,ur
r

i
irr;iri,r':. \\ ho sa] s \ ()u c:trl-t ch:rngc the rr lrrld?
I

i::r
hei.stiiutioa of famil\ is
seen to be dcclining in
Singapore. with increasjng
numbers of single parent
1:rmilies and ch siirnctional ieerlaSers
pointed to as signs of its denrise.
The blarne is laid. otten witb great
accuracy, at the door of orr career
drivcn societv. lt is an irnpartiai
realislic truth tLal dcmandingjobs
and professional ambitions are
maintained aod achieved ?t great
cost to famil] relationshlps due to
their time-consuming and strcssful
nature- Yet it is too narro\\'to
(iisrliss career pulsuit as bringing
nothing but hard.hip for the iimih
ln a snrallsignifi.irnt \\r\ it hrs also
brousht ;rlt.rnirli\ e benufits to
b:rllnrr',,ut iis (l isildIa nIr
( arecr horl c\ er is srill ttre
irrfanrous nrain cause behi nd
do\rr]\ttrrd trolds of thL'lnlnill
unit in Singaporr: likc our
falling birth rates. Iluc i,) it-\
rmlll sir(. Sinsirt),)r( hrs l,r
56 BROADER PtRSPilIVtS
f
mzl\imise its onlv resource- people,
in a whiic-collar economy. Coupled
with our high costs of living. this has
created llew generations oi \\'orking
classcs who are career focused as
the olfice job remains the most
stablc, geDeral form of income- As
a lesu]1, to the Pragmatic
Singaporean. starting a familv
becomcs an iurpractical idea as
children requir-e time and patieDl
care $,hich the busy olfice rvorker
stri\.ing to hit thc next deadline is
uDable to provide. Stafiilg a famil]
is furlher put off as Singrporcan
'onleD enter thc \\jorklorce- A career
1!itir ils stimulating rrork challenges
rt'\tardcd br peNonal inconie firakcs
th{'lradiiioDal talr1ih dLrt\ oi sla\
3es. :rt honre \rifc ilnd nroth.r rlull and
finin(iilh unatlrafti\ e I)\ ,rjnii irsi.
I hrrrli)re il is tlir 1.) stite lhel thr
\ir11r, ,)t tenlil\ hrs thus bcrn
rrrrric|nrincd bv rarrfr as xr:rtfliiri
ilins ir. no\ \\i,Jt,]\ perc,ri|t'd to
bling more lulfilnrent thnn cll)se
kinship ti.s
thLr sir(/op{)ru Lss11.
Ncgative changes in the
perccptions and treatment of
clderly are another price the
family unit has had to pay for'
the pursuit ofcareer. With the
rvoridoad and need to netr,t'o.k to
gain business contacts conles a nrore
affluent, social lifest_vle that leaves
less and less time lbr inleraction
wiih the elderly me bers of the
family, r\lso, the elderly often have
differing interests and \alues from
the more )'oung office-
'iberal
\rorkers !\tich t ?1lics it even harder
t0 maintain to communicate witit
them as individuals. These Degatile
nttitudes broughl on inditectll b)
ihv rise of carcer lifcstrles in
SiDgapore can be seen bl ihe
increasin,q numbers of \'orking
singles .rr- co'.rp!.s flarios eldcrll
rrlatirr's in,rld toiks- homes- Thi
S inerp,rrr'a n goii'rnlnenl h:rs
eslinralrd it \\ill rlced to increast-
nurrbers ,)i such honre-. fronl 5o 1o
3o br ro ro
 llv haring a cercer has rnade
n ed\rcf tn cut \Urh h ril\ trr\
latest Singapore policies gi\ing
kers rtith incornes 0i S33oo
sidies 1or sending aged parenLs
such hoines-
i
has further caused the
do$_n of the fanilY unit
ugh the host ofemotional
it
psychological onslaught
ngs upon the individual
ich er.tends to diffrculties in
ily relationships. The Gra-nt
ornton lnternaiional 2oo6
te.national Business (l\\ ners'
rvev has placed Singapore
ployees at the most stressed
ll], \.!rth 57% siafing that their
levels had increased since thd
ious 1,ear. These iDcreased
ls ofstress due to the demands
career have resulted in
ychological problems like
pression, or increasing rates of
oholism. Ultimatelv the familv
f{ers the backlash of career-
ted stress with an increase in
iial conflicts as the workload
d high-powered Singap0rean
place atmosphere strains the
ience and tolerance levels of
dir.iduals, resultjDg ofien jn
rce. Figures show ihat some
5% of marriages in Singapore
ve ended in divorce- with half
ing work-related stress as the
er for the nrarital breakdown-
us family has become
creasingl]' fragnrentcd witlL
ter nunbers of single parcni
milies and alienated divorcees
erging lilh c\'nical !ier!s oi
arnilge
onetheless. it is lor) lirnit{:d
dismiss $ ork as briDging
Y disadvantaues for societ].
crreer lifr'-st\le ha,. also side
ll;ls for lrnrilvand socit't.\ rtich
a\''n li re help allerialc ils
ar,lilril,s Urrc str' h Jrtneilr ls lhe
!ircaler income a career
urdispuledll brings for a famill.
Reasonrble rvhite collar s;laries in
Singapore have allorved workers to
afford more lururies benefiting the
familr intellechrallv and phr sicall].
Career holders are better able to
shoulder the increased medicai
e\penses of their rclations- medical
costs go up. The\ can also pro\ide
them \ith better amenities to ease
the old age oftheir elderlr reiations
and lentthen their lives, such as
prouding them 1!rth con]fortable
homes, domestic help and nurses
to attend to iheir ph!-sical
disabilities zrnd material enjoyments
like trips overseas and spas. Carcer
hoiders are also better able to
provide a good education for their
children and afford tuition andgood
books, conrpared to the poorer
families whose children may grow
up in a less privileged and
i ntellectu all]' stimulating
environment- Thus career can
benefit the family unit as it enhances
the family's standards of living-
Also, work provided an
aliernate 'family' in forms of
social support groups which
have brought together
otherwise isolated single
individuals. I\,Iany rnultinational
corporations in Sirgapore like
Lenovo. Bausch and Lomb have
conducted manv team building and
bonding programmes amongst its
employces. Nloreover. the close-knit
groups among office $orkers aiso
share lheir grievances and stress
related problerns \\'hile this $ill
nelti be a perlect replacemenl for
iile iamii! unrr- th(],sl] socialgroups
Il]\ ]n rrrpotlint pirt in brin{ir!
.lt.'f!raiii e -:ources oi a!r( irnLl
wlrnrth t(r l)Lrs\ rorking inditdrrals
itho nra\ be isolated horr ol rlenied
i s!ppi)rti|r'falnil\'unit due to
d\shrnrtil)nal home,s or diror|e
Thus, while it is fair to
corir ment that career has
destabilised the family unit in
Singaporc, it is limitingto stale
tha! cAteer has onl!' brou8ht
disadvanlages for the family.
Career has also brought with ii
alternative benefits for the famil_v.
rthich contribute significantll to
societa s ph\sical and emotionai
lLell being in the long run and help
e|en out its negati\'e impacts.
'rlloreover, the efforts are bei g
made to tackle the problem of t}e
declining famil] unit- Tbe
Singaporean government has
established policies like its Baby
Bonus scheme to entice workers to
rethink the concept of family and
children, The gove.nment has
housing scheme policies in place
rvhere families rvho live near their
elderly parents or relatives get
priority in HDB flat allocation. It
has also tried introducing
rvorkshops in the workplace on
stress management and coulselling
services for troubled marital
relationships. All these policies may
have varying success rates, yet at
least there is a recognition of the
problems posed by demanding
career lifestyles upon the family unit
anda movernent to re-establish and
slrengtien familial ties. Thus, there
is yet hope for the Singaporean
family unit that it may combal the
negative effects of a solely career
oriented outlook and remain a
strong morul pillar of societ-v. f t
IHIRI iS YIT HOPT
fOR THI5INGAPOREAN
fAMItY UilIT THAi
II MAY IOMBAT THI
NtGATIVi EIIi05
OF A sOtEtY $RIIR
ORIINTID OUIIOOl(.